Shakhtar Donetsk 17/20 to win against Istanbul Basaksehir in tonight’s Europa League clash

Shakhtar Donetsk travel to the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium to face Istanbul Basaksehir in the first leg of the Europa League playoffs tonight, and are favourites to come out on top with the gulf in the class between the two sides.

Home side Istanbul Basaksehir finished fourth in the Turkish Super Lig last season with 59 points from 34 games, but only won 47% of their games. Istanbul have proven to be more formidable on home soil, winning 11 of 17 in the last 12 months, but Shakhtar will prove to be a difficult opposition.

As for the visitors, Shakhtar have started the new season in blistering form, boasting four consecutive wins in the Ukrainian Premier League, and were outstanding on the road. Donetsk have won 11 of their last 15 away games, and will fancy their chances of winning the first leg tonight as a result.

Shakhtar Donetsk are firm favourites to come out on top given their impressive away form and stronger squad, and Bet 365 are giving odds of 17/20 for the visitors to see past Istanbul Basaksehir at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crippy Cooke

Crippy Cooke has somehow written for the Telegraph, Independent, Huffington Post, Zoo Magazine, Daily Mail, ITV Football, MSN Sport, Yahoo Sport, London24 and Bleacher Report among others, despite knowing less about football than your average Fan TV member . The weekly accumulator enthusiast is saving up his winnings to pay for a much-needed hair transplant but grows more on his chin than his head. He lives and breathes football and somehow makes a living writing from it.

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